Alabama

Alabama offensive line coach Mario Cristobal works with his linemen during warmups before the Crimson Tide's first preseason scrimmage on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at Bryant-Denny in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com)

That seemed to be noticeable Saturday in the Crimson Tide's first scrimmage of the preseason.

"I don't think we played with the kind of power that we need to play with," Alabama coach Nick Saban said when asked about the offensive line. "We didn't get a lot of movement up front."

The first-team unit apparently wasn't so weak.

"The second team offensive and defensive lines both were not what we'd like for them to be," Saban said. "They've got room to grow. They've got room to improve."

The season-opening game against Virginia Tech on Aug. 31 in Atlanta still is three weeks away.

"I think we've got the ability to develop," Saban said. "We need to get the right guys in the right spots. We've got to work 'em. This scrimmage evaluation certainly tells us a little bit about who we should be working with."

Junior left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio and senior right guard Anthony Steen are returning starters. Junior Arie Kouandjio seems to be the front-runner to replace Chance Warmack at left guard. Junior Austin Shepherd is the favorite to replace D.J. Fluker at right tackle. Sophomore Ryan Kelly seems established as the new center.

Barrett Jones won the Rimington Award as the nation's best center last season and was the Outland Trophy winner as a left tackle the previous season. he was drafted in the fourth round by the St. Louis Rams. Warmack and Fluker were picked in the first round by the Tennessee Titans and the San Diego Chargers, respectively.